Water-supply system



Nov. 23 1926. 1,608,355

H. H. BAUER WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM Original File April 11 19 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR f UPI-25% 7 mam firm Q12 71% B Q v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WNW ATTORNEY m s ggzg i Nov. 23, 1926.

UNETED STTEZS HERMANN HINRICH BAUER, OF VEGA BAJA, PORTO RICO.

WATER-SUPPLY SYSTEM.

Application filed April 11, 1924, Serial No. 705,953. Renewed October 13, 1928.

This invention relates to water supply systems wherein rain water is collected and stored within a tank or cistern for future use.

As is Well known, this water is collected from the roofs of buildings and at the beginning of a rain fall a large amount of dirt or extraneous matter is carried into the cistern rendering the water unsanitary. In addition, the water collecting means permits of the entrance of small animals such as rats, mice and so forth. These animals drown rendering the water dangerous to the user.

The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by providing a water supply system wherein the storage tank or cistern is normally closed until a suiiicient quantity of rain has fallen to wash away dirt or other matter collected upon the roof of a building, after which entrance to the cistern is automatically opened so that pure rain water may pass into the cistern.

he system further provides means whereby the entrance to the cistern will be automatically closed at the expiration of the rain fall, the parts assuming their normal positions so that the operation just described may be repeated at the next fall of rain.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claim.

in the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the normal position of the valve.

Figure 3 is a detail section showing the valve in position for directing water into the cistern.

teferring in detail to the drawings where in like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates a storage tank or cistern and 11 an auxiliary tank. Mounted upon the auxiliary tank 11 is a tank or casing 12 which provides a float chamber 13 and communicating with this chamber is one end of a pipe 14, the latter leading to the roof of a building. Extending from the pipe 14 is a pipe 15 which communicates with the cistern 10.

Communication between the pipe 14 and the cistern and the pipe 14 and the float chamber 13 is controlled by a valve 16. This valve is of disk-like form and is adapted to engage a valve seat 17 at the entrance to the pipe 15 and to engage a valve seat 18 at the entrance to the chamber 13. For this purpose the valve is mounted upon the outer end of an arm 19 which is in turn mounted.

as shown at 24 to one end of an arm 25.

This arm is pivotally mounted as indicated at 26 within the chamber 13 and carries at its free end a float 27.

The pipe 14 is enlarged as indicated at 28 to provide for the free operation of the valve 16 and this enlarged portion is provided with a sight opening 29 whereby the valve may be inspected. In addition, the chamber 13 is provided with a restricted outlet 30, While the auxiliary tank is. provided with a similar opening 31. The tank 11 may also be'provided with a drain cock 32.

Normally the parts are arranged so that the valve 16 engages the seat 17 to out 01f communication to the cistern through the pipe 15. Thus, animals, insects or the like are prevented from entering the cistern. At the beginning of a rain fall, the rain will pass through the pipe 14 and through the float chamber 13 into the auxiliary tank 11, filling the tank and the float chamber 13 so as to raise the float 27. This will cause the valve to be swung downward so as to engage the seat 18, cutting off communication between the pipe 14 and the float chamber and opening communication through the pipe 15 to the cistern. During the time required for raising the float 27, the roof from which the water is collected is washed clean so that only clean water enters the cistern. The valve will remain upon the seat 18 dur-' ing the fall of rain and when the rain fall ceases, water will escape from the chamber 13 through the opening 30 and from the auxiliary tank through the opening 31. This will elevate the valve 16 so as to engage the seat 17, due to the weight of the float 27 When relieved of the buoyancy of the Water. Owing to the size of the openings 30 and 31 the auxiliary tank and valve chamber Will not be emptied for an appreciable period. Should sufficient water run out of the float chamber to permit the float 27 to descend, the valve 16 Will remain upon the seat 18 due to the Weight of the head of Water entering through the pipe 14: as long as the rain fall continues.

The invention 1s susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make'such changes as proper- 1y fall Within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention What is claimed is In a Water supply system, a main storage tank, an auxiliary tank, a float chamber, a vertically disposed water supply pipe communicating with the float chamber,- a'horizontally disposed branch pipe having one end in communication with the Water supply pipe at an appreciable distance above the float chamber and its opposite end in communication with the storage tank, a valve seat at the inner end of the branch pipe, a valve seat at the point of communication between the vvater supply pipe and float chamber, said seats defining vertically spaced right angularly arranged valve seats, a valve member commonto both seats, an arm rigid with and extending from one edge of the valve member and having its outer end pivotally mounted between the *alve seats and-at *apoint spaced outwardly from said seats. Wherebypivotal movement of the arm will swing the valve member to engage either seat, a pivotally mounted.

float controlled arm Within the'float chan'r her and a rod connecting said float controlled arm and-valve member for controlling the position ofthe latter.

HERMANN HINRICH BAUER. 

